International Journal of Ebola, AIDS, HIV and Infectious Diseases and Immunity Vol.4, No.1, pp.1-11, April 2017 __Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) AVAILABILITY OF HIV/AIDS INFORMATION TO WOMEN IN IKOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA Felicia U. Iwara CLN Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Library, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. ABSTRACT: The study was carried out to determine how HIV/AIDS information was made available to women in Ikom Local Government Area. Survey method was used through the administration of questionnaire. 300 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. The return was 90%. It was revealed that, due to poverty and the low level of education, the women found it very difficult to have access to available HIV/AIDS information whenever it was made available. It is therefore, recommended that adult schools should be established in all Local Government Areas of Cross River State especially Ikom Local Government Area to educate the women and sensitize them about the dangers of this deadly disease and how to prevent it especially from mother-child. By educating the women, it will enable them access available HIV/AIDS information at the appropriate time. Women should be empowered so that, they do not rely entirely on men financially. KEYWORDS: Availability, HIV/AIDS, Information, Women, Ikom Local Government, Cross River State INTRODUCTION All over the world HIV/AIDS is causing devastation by its destructive effects on families and economy of the nation. At the end of 2003, a report was issued by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the status of HIV/AIDS in the world (UNAIDS/WHO, 2004). The report showed that about 37million adults (aged 15-49) and 2.5million children (aged 0-14) were living with the HIV virus in different parts of the world. In Africa, the proportion was even more worrisome as about 73 percent of this global burden was on Africa. Out of this, 67percent were young women and 33 percent were young men (UNICEF, 2003). sub-Saharan Africa is the region that has the highest number of people, 26.6 million infected with HIV/AIDS in the world (O’ Sullivan, 2000). In 2003, there were about 3.2 million new infections in sub-Saharan Africa. The first case of HIV/AIDS was officially reported in Nigeria in 1984 and identified in 1986, in a young sexually active girl who was involved in commercial sex (Okafor, 1996; Shokunbi etal, 2006). The prevalence rate in Nigeria rose steadily to a peak of 5.8 percent by 2002. The prevalence rate reduced in 2003, putting the country at 5.0 percent as reported in the Nigerian National Sentinel prevalence rate Uneze (2005). HIV/AIDS National Prevalence rate of 2010 was 4.1 percent Obi (2011). HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Cross River State as at the last sentinel survey (2003) was 12.5 percent the highest in the country. The prevalence rate in Cross River State was pegged at 5.8 percent of the state population Sunday (2003). In 2006, the prevalence rate dropped from 12.5 percent report, in the Daily Independent, 2008, the wife of the Cross River State Governor Mrs Obioma Liyel Imoke lamented the increasing cases of HIV/AIDS infections which she said has resulted in the rise of divorce cases in the state. The rate of spread was devastating and this calls for investigation. Cross River State 1 Print ISSN: ISSN 2397-7779, Online ISSN: ISSN 2397-7787 International Journal of Ebola, AIDS, HIV and Infectious Diseases and Immunity Vol.4, No.1, pp.1-11, April 2017 __Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) was reported to have the 11th highest (4.4%) HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Nigeria according to the National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS report (NACA, 2012). HIV/AIDS situation in Nigeria HIV/AIDS was officially confirmed in a young girl who was involved in commercial sex (Okafor, 1996; Shokunbi etal 2006). The prevalence rate rose to 5.8 percent by 2002 and reduced in 2003, putting the country at 5.0 percent as reported in the Nigerian National Sentinel prevalence rate study of 2003 by Uneze (2005). Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of about 180 million. Nigeria is also one of the countries where the existence of HIV/AIDS has been reported and where fears of further spread of the deadly disease has been expressed (Asagba, 1992; Ozoemene, 1992; Abiodu, 1993; Okafor 1997). Nigeria is the third country in the world after South Africa and India with the highest number of people living with HIVAIDS (Peter-Omale and Taiwo, 2006). According to Obayuwana (2007), the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS dropped in Nigeria as the global fund support started its fifth round. The prevalence rate started dropping from 5.8 percent in 2001 to 5.0 percent in 2003 and now 4.4 percent as recorded in 2005. Although there is a slight decline in the prevalence rate of 5.0 percent in 2003 and a critical rate of 5.0 percent in 2004 and 4.5 percent in 2005 (Skogseth, 2006), this data showed that there was a decline in HIV infection rate, nonetheless the high rate of infection is still of great concern. Nigeria has the highest number of HIV/AIDS infected adults in West Africa (UN, 2004). Nigeria is the second country in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest burden in HIV infection (NASCP, 2005). It has been projected by USAIDS (2002) that by 2010 there will be 10-15 million HIV cases in Nigeria. Research data in Nigeria show that, HIV/AIDS is evident in rural as well as urban areas of the country. The new figures put the number of people infected with the disease at 3.1 million thereby placing Nigeria as the second highest in sub-Saharan Africa and the highest in the West African sub-region. The new HIV/AIDS National Prevalence Rate of 2010 is put at 4.1 percent Obi (2011). Therefore, education and prevention efforts should not be concentrated only in the urban centers but also extended to the rural areas (Okafor, 1997), because there are some states within the country that, their prevalence rates are higher than the present national prevalence rate. Despite the concerted effort employed by the government and other corporate organizations to avert HIV, the number of people living with the virus and HIV related stigma continue to increase in some states of the federation. According to UNAIDS (2014), Nigeria HIV prevalence was 3.2 percent as compared to 4.1 percent as at 2012. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has pledged the readiness of the Federal Government to adopt stringent measures in order to check the spread of HIV/AIDS in every part of the country. The present Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Dr Sani Aliyu, said that the Nigerian government only funded the treatment of five percent of about 1.6 million Nigerian AIDS patients, while others were treated courtesy of global funding agencies (Akinselure, 2017). According to Aliyu, a large number of HIV carriers remained untreated due to inadequate funding for the control of AIDS by state governments compared to what global funding agencies committed. Studies in other cultures, especially in the developing countries, indicate that two out of every three persons below poverty line are women who also have the highest rate of illiteracy, lowest educational levels and may not even have access to radio and television (Panos Institute, 1990). This makes it difficult for women to receive information about AIDS/STDs. 2 Print ISSN: ISSN 2397-7779, Online ISSN: ISSN 2397-7787 International Journal of Ebola, AIDS, HIV and Infectious Diseases and Immunity Vol.4, No.1, pp.1-11, April 2017 __Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) Hernandez (1993), stated that women have difficulty having access to information. This perhaps has been one of the major reasons for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and other African countries. Women in the lower economic strata lack information and so may be ignorant of HIV/AIDS. Even when women are aware of HIV risk, they lack the power to change the sexual behavior of their partners on whom they depend economically. The women are usually afraid of being abandoned or of physical violence should they attempt to increase their bargaining power in heterosexual relationships (Shayne and Kaplan, 1991). It implies that women have very little control over their partners which actually contribute to women’s susceptibility to AIDS/STDs. The United State Consulate General, Mr John Bray said in Lagos that United State disbursed $3.4 billion to fight HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The scourge is still on in many states of Nigeria. In the year 2000, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) established the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) to disseminate HIV/AIDS information to the populace. NACA with the 36 states various Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) and the Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA) organized workshops and seminars to educate and sensitize the people about the modes of acquisition, process of prevention and care of the people living with HIV/AIDS. Some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and individual bodies have also joined to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). They educate people on how the disease is contacted, the symptoms and methods of spread.